Device for interconnecting wave guides



June 27, 1950 1. STEPHAN 2,513,067

Filed April 28, 1944 IN VEN TOR.

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Patented June 27, 1950 r 2,513,067" DEVICE FORINTERCONNECTIN-GWAVE UIDESlingo Stephan; Delanco, *N. -J'., assignor, by -,mes,ne assignments, toPhilco. Corporation, Philadlelphia, Pa., a corporation of-,Pennsylvania. I

zpplication -April 28, 1944, Serial No. 5333185 The present inventionrelates. to devices-for: flexibly interconnecting rigid waveguidesections.

In ultra high frequency apparatus it is necessary to provide for limitedlongitudinal and axial movement of wave guide sections relative to eachtherand;bere of r su m e e a been ranged by using flexible wave guidesections which involved sliding contacts which however deteriorated withage and introduced undesirable leakage. It,- therefore, would bedesirable to provide a different form of connection between wave guidesections-which will obviate the objections to the'devices in theprior'art. I

It, therefore, is an objectof the present inventionto provide animproved device for flexibly interconnecting rigid wave guide sections.

Still another objeotof the--present invention is to provide animprovedconnection for flexibly interconnecting rigid waveguide-sections which is relatively simple to construct and which doesnot deteriorate with age.

Otherand further-objects of the present invention subsequently willbecome apparent by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a crosssectional representation of, a device embodying the present inventionfor interconnecting rigid wave guide sections; and

Figure 2 is a-view in the direction of the arrows along the line 22 ofFigure 1.

In the drawing there are shown two wave guide sections II and I2 of therectangular wave guide type having similar cross sections. The waveguide section II has mounted adjacent its end a connecting member l3having a rectangular opening I4 for receiving the rectangular wave guideI l and has a generally circular or cylindrical outer periphery I5. Atthe intermediate portion of the member l3 the outer diameter isconsiderably less than the diameter of the portion IS. A reduceddiameter portion I6 is provided at an intermediate point adjacentanother portion I! having a slightly greater diameter so as to providean annular stepped configuration.

The wave guide [2 is similarly mounted in a rectangular opening I8 in aconnecting member l9 having a generally circular or cylindrical outerconfiguration and surface 2 I. Two reduced diameter portions 22 and 23are provided so as to form a, stepped annular configuration similar tothe configuration provided on the other coupling member I3. In additionthe device [9 is provided with an annular recess 24 of such dimensionsas to form with the space 25 between the ends of the wave guides II andI2 and the inner end portions 4 Claims. (Cl.-17-8 -44) of the members[ii-and I 9 a high frequency choke for the energy-being transmitted-bythe wave guides. The space 25 between the Wave guides H and; 122forming-a portionof the choke is -delineated by a generall cylindricalwall surface form'edbya plurality of link membersiii. The link members26 have straight edged bottom portions 21 and depending-end portions 28-toengagethe reduced di arneter portions Iii, ll; 22,- and 'zt 1 of themembers-l3 and l3. Eachof the'members 26 is provided with anaperture-30'- wherein ispositioned. a resilient retaining member or coilspring 29'. The li-nlrmembers 26- retained' in position by the coilsspri-ng 29-therefore= form agen-- erally cylindrical wallsurface-interconnectingthe circular membersl3 and 19 in: a mannerwhichwill permit limitedlongitudina-I and angular movement-betweenthe waveguide sections I l and I2. In permitting-relative longitudinal and.angular movement between the wave guidesections- I and. [2,- itnecessary to prevent angular rotation of one wave guide relative to theother.- This may be accomplished; by providinga resilient or elasticcovering-*3lwhi'ch engages the outer pee ripheral portions wand 2 1 ofthe-membersi3 and 'I 9 and which is retained positionthereon 'byaplurality of clam-ping members-t2= and 3-3.

The member 3 I may be a portion of a rubber hose held in position by theclamping rings13'2- and--33- so as =to--restra-in any rotationalmovementor one wave guide relative to the other and yetpermi-t angulardisplacement of the axis of one wave guide relative to the other. Therubber hose covering of the coupling member 3| also serves as an airtight shield for the entire flexible joint. The members I3 and H! aresecured to the wave guides I l and I2 in a permanent manner so as toinsure positive conductive connection therebetween, and the annularrecess together with the space 25 operates as a choke at the frequenciesbeing transmitted. The contacts between the individual link members 25and the contacting surfaces engaged on the members [3 and 2|, are goodconductive contacts because of the action of the resilient retainingspring member 29. Furthermore deterioration of the contact surfaces isminimized by the air tight enclosure'provided by the hose covering 3|.It therefore will be appreciated that there has been provided animproved flexible joint for interconnecting rectangular wave guideswhich obviates the disadvantages heretofore found in the devicescommonly used.

While for the purpose of illustrating and describing the presentinvention, a certain specific embodiment has been shown in the drawing,it is 2,613,067 all .1131

said members, and a resilient cover member engaging said members andsurrounding said band.

4. A structure for joining two longitudinally spaced wave guides formedof conductive material and adapted for the propagation of ultra highfrequency electromagnetic wave energy, said structure comprising: a pairof members, one of said members being adapted for connection to .one ofsaid wave guides, the other of said memtherein, said device comprisingtwo spaced-apart members each adapted to be rigidly secured to a Waveguide section, said members having a .rec.-'

tangular opening for said wave guide section and a circular outerconfiguration, a plurality of linkbridging members each extending fromone of said circular members to the other, said link members forming agenerally cylindrical wall sur F face and interconnecting said circularmembers to permit limited longitudinal and angular movement between saidguide sections, and resilient means for retaining said link bridgingmembers in position.

2. A flexible joint for rectangular wave guides formed of conductivematerial and adapted to convey ultra high frequency electromagnetic waveenergytherein, said joint comprising two spaced apart members eachadapted to be secured to a wave guide, said members each havingarectangular opening for said wave guides and a cylindrical outersurface portion, a plurality of link bridging members engaging theadjacent portions of said spaced members and forming a generallycylindrical wall surface, encircling the space between the adjacentfaces of said spaced members, said link bridging members permittinglimited longitudinal and angular movement between said wave guides, andresilient means interconnecting said circular outer surface portions ofsaid spaced members to enclose said joint and to restrain rotarymovement of one guide relative to the other. Y

3. -A wave guide joint structure for interconnecting wave guides formedof conductive material and adapted to convey ultra high frequencyelectromagnetic wave energy therein, said joint structure comprising apair of spaced members adapted to be connected to wave guides to bejoined, an articulated band encircling and engaging the adjacentportions of said members, and forming a surface enclosing the spacebetween bers being adapted for connection to the other of said waveguides and each of said members having a circumferentially channeledouter configuration; a plurality ofU-shaped links, their side armsengaging the channels in both said members, and their cross armsextending between said channels to form longitudinal bridgingconnections therebetween, said links being disposed in circumferentialadjacency along the outer faces of said members; and resilient meanscircumferentially interconnecting said links and tending to maintainsaid links in thestated' circumferential adjacency. 1

REFERENCES crrnn 1 1 The following references are of record in -the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES, PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Practical Analysis of Ultra HighFrequency, copyrighted 1943 by RCA Service 00., Camden, New Jersey, page16, column 2. (Copy in Division 65.)

INGO L. STEPHAN;

I Meier Mar.v 15, 19 49

